U.S. Assistant Attorney General threatens lawsuit over California “Glock Ban”

FRESNO, Calif. (FOX26) — California is the first state in the nation to ban Glock handguns, with the new restriction scheduled to take full effect July 1.

California is the first state in the nation to ban Glock handguns, with the new restriction scheduled to take full effect July 1 (FOX26).

United States Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon sent a letter, on Wednesday, June 24, to California leaders asking them to stop the ban.

On social media, she the ban “unconstitutional” and threatened to sue if it was not dropped.

Glocks are one of the most popular handguns in the county and the new ban is sparking strong opinions.

The new law, AB 1127, is aimed at gun modifiers known as “Glock switch,es” that can be added to the back of a Glock to make it fire like an automatic weapon. With the device attached, a shooter can pull the trigger once, hold it down and continue firing until the gun runs out of bullets.

Assemblymember Catherine Stefani, who represents California Assembly District 19, said the measure is intended to close a loophole that has allowed illegal conversions.

“Fully automatic weapons have been banned for decades, but bad actors have found a backdoor,” Stefani said. “AB 1127 slams that door shut.”

Jake Belemjian, owner of The Firing Line, said he believes the law unfairly singles out Glock even though other manufacturers’ guns can be modified in similar ways.

“Almost any semi-automatic firearm with the right person and the right tools can be made to be a fully automatic firearm,” Belemjian said.

Belemjian said his store’s Glock inventory disappeared quickly after the ban was introduced.

“Everybody’s panicked about it and now they all want to buy a Glock which they can’t because they’re just aren’t any,” he said.e.”

California leaders have said the bill is focused on stopping illegal machine guns, not restricting legal gun ownership.

“No one needs a machine gun to defend their home. And no gun sold in California should be one screwdriver away from becoming one.” Stefani said.

Belemjian and others noted that “Glock switches” are illegal and have been in California because automatic weapons are illegal. The Glock handgun ban adds another layer intended to prevent anyone from having the ability to use the switch.

The debate comes as California continues to enforce some of the nation’s strictest gun laws. In 1989, California became the first state in the nation to enact legislation regulating the sale, manufacture and possession of assault weapons.